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Pacer Clint McKay struck again in the eighth over to dismiss Luke Ronchi (14) and reduced New Zealand to 26/2 in 7.1 overs.
McKay dismissed in-form opener Martin Guptill (8) early in the fourth over to provide Australia their first breakthrough.
Electing to bat, Adam Voges (71) and skipper George Bailey (55) hit fifties to help Australia post 243/8.
Late charge by all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (29 not out) boosted the Australian total in the end, after they were reduced to 219/8 in 47.4 overs. Maxwell smacked two maximums and a four in his quick-fire 22-ball cameo.
Mitchell McClenaghan, who had finished with an impressive 4-43 against Sri Lanka in Cardiff, was again the wrecker-in-chief for the Kiwis with 4-65 as the pacer became the highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far with 8 scalps.
Mitchell Johnson (8) became McClenaghan's fourth victim in the 48th over soon after Kane Williamson dismissed James Faulkner (6) in the previous over.
McClenaghan struck twice in consecutive overs to get rid of Voges and Mitchell Marsh (22). McClenaghan double-strike put a break on Australian run charge as it reduced Oz to 196/6 in 43.1 overs from 193/4 in 41.5 overs.
Voges and Marsh added 43 runs for the fifth wicket as they continued their resurrection against the Kiwis. Voges smashed seven boundaries in his impressive 76-ball knock, whereas Marsh hit three fours in his quick 24-ball 22.
Off-spinner Nathan McCullum struck again to bowl out George Bailey (55) after the latter added 77-run with Voges for the fourth wicket.
Bailey's dismissal reduced Australia to 151/4 in 35 overs. Bailey hit five boundaries in his 91-ball slow innings, in which he was part of two successive fifty-run stand, as he resurrected Australia after early blows.
Australia lost Matthew Wade (29) after he added 64-run for the third wicket with skipper George Bailey to lead their fightback.
McCullum trapped Wade leg before in the nineteenth over to break the dangerous-looking third wicket partnership and reduced Australia to 74/3 in 19 overs.
Wade hit three boundaries in his patient 57-ball knock.
Australia's innings started on a disastrous note as they lost Phillip Hughes (0) and Shane Watson (5) inside four overs.
A brilliant piece of fielding by Martin Guptill sent Hughes back to pavilion without opening his account in the fourth over as Australia are reduced to 10/2 in 3.1 overs.
Pacer Mitchell McClenaghan gave the Kiwis an important early breakthrough in the second over when he dismissed Aussie all-rounder Watson.
Earlier, Australian stand-in captain George Bailey won the toss and chose to bat against the Kiwis.
After winning the toss, Bailey said he hoped that the decision turns out to be a good one and also hoped that the pitch will get difficult to bat as the game progresses.
New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum too wanted to bat first and now looks forward for his bowlers to make use of the overhead conditions.
David Warner has reportedly had an altercation with Joe Root and the Aussie team management will decide on a disciplinary action against him. As for now, he has been left out of this clash.
Australia are without captain Michael Clarke as the star batsman continues to struggle with the latest recurrence of his longstanding back injury.
It will be a big test for the stand-in skipper George Bailey to turn Australia's fortunes around.
Defending champions Australia, who beat New Zealand in the 2009 Champions Trophy final, suffered a 48-run loss to hosts England at Edgbaston last week.
The Kiwis come into the clash on the back of a nail-biting one-wicket win over Sri Lanka.
Teams:
Australia: George Bailey (Capt.), Shane Watson, Matthew Wade, Phillip Hughes, Adam Voges, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty.
New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (Capt.), Luke Ronchi, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, James Franklin, Nathan McCullum, Daniel Vettori, Tim Southee, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan.
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